Singer-songwriter and Replacements guitarist Bob "Slim" Dunlap has died
by Reed Fischer
December 19, 2024
Hard-working singer, songwriter, and guitarist Bob “Slim” Dunlap has died at the age of 73. The news was confirmed by his family, who were by his side when he died at home Wednesday afternoon. Due to a devastating stroke in 2012, Dunlap faced many health challenges in the final years of his life, and a vibrant performance career was cut short.
A bulletin from his family reads: “Bob passed at home today at 12:48 p.m. surrounded by family. We played him his ‘Live at the Turf Club, (’Thank You Dancers!)’ CD, and he left us shortly after listening to his version of ‘Hillbilly Heaven’ — quite poignant. It was a natural decline over the past week. Overall it was due to complications from his stroke.”
While he was working as a janitor at First Avenue, Dunlap was invited to join the Replacements in 1987, taking over guitar duties after Bob Stinson’s departure. He appears on the final two of the band’s albums — 1989’s Don’t Tell a Soul and All Shook Down, released in 1990.
Born in Plainview, Minnesota, on Aug. 14, 1951, Dunlap caught the music bug early on. By his early 20s, he was collaborating with Curt “Curtiss A” Almsted in an R&B-inspired group called Thumbs Up. Later, Dunlap and Almsted made several punk albums together as Spooks.
After the Replacements broke up, Dunlap collaborated with Georgia Satellites frontman Dan Baird and later launched a solo career that leaned deeper into a roots-rock style. His two full-length albums are The Old New Me, released in 1993, and the 1996 follow-up, Times Like This. The latter of the two yielded the title track, which took on a life of its own.
“Check out the two Slim Dunlap records because they're just so beautiful,” Bruce Springsteen told NPR’s Ann Powers in a 2014 interview. “They're just beautiful rock 'n' roll records. I found them to be deeply touching and emotional.”
Springsteen was delivering this message after Dunlap’s stroke, and he was far from the only one so moved to support him. His former Replacements bandmates Paul Westerberg, Tommy Stinson, and Chris Mars hooked up with fellow Twin Cities musicians Kevin Bowe and Peter Anderson to release a five-song benefit EP, Songs for Slim, in March of 2013.
Recorded and produced by Ed Ackerson at Flower Studio in Minneapolis, the collection features covers of Dunlap’s “Busted Up” and “Radio Hook Word Hit,” and “I’m Not Sayin’” by Gordon Lightfoot, Leon Payne’s “Lost Highway” (later popularized by Hank Williams), and “Everything’s Coming Up Roses” from Gypsy. By later in 2013, a longer benefit compilation of 7-inches arrived called Songs For Slim - Rockin' Here Tonight: A Benefit Compilation For Slim Dunlap from New West Records featuring contributions from Lucinda Williams, Frank Black, Jeff Tweedy, and a wealth of Twin Cities talents.
Through it all, Slim’s wife Chrissie Dunlap was a fervent caretaker after his stroke. In addition to his wife, Dunlap leaves behind children Louie and Delia, and grandchildren. While no details are public at present, a celebration of his life is in the works.
To support the Dunlap family, send PayPal payments to slimdunlap21@gmail.com.
